Guidewire loading assist tool for intravascular blood pumps

Abstract

The present invention provides a guidewire assist tool for use in providing a smooth back loading of a guide wire through an intravascular blood pump such as a VAD, LVAD or RVAD. Such devices typically have large apertures or windows, e.g., outlet apertures located proximally of an impeller. The guidewire assist tool temporarily fills the windows to allow the guidewire to smoothly translate past the windows. Once the guidewire tip has translated past the apertures or windows, the guidewire assist tool may be removed.

1 . A guidewire assist tool for loading a guidewire into a blood pump having a housing, inlet apertures defined through the housing, outlet apertures defined through the housing, the guidewire assist tool further comprising:
 a first arm comprising a grip end and a partially circumferential end opposite the grip end, the partially circumferential end comprising an inner surface defining at least one raised surface,   a second arm comprising a grip end and a partially circumferential end opposite the grip end, the partially circumferential end comprising an inner surface defining at least one raised surface,   wherein the first and second arms are rotationally connected along a length of the first and second arms and configured such that scissoring the first arm grip end and the second arm grip end toward each other causes the first arm partially circumferential end and the second arm's partially circumferential end to move away from each other and into an open configuration, and   wherein scissoring the first grip end away from the second arm grip end causes the first arm's partially circumferential end and the second arm's partially circumferential end to move toward each other and into a closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and the partially circumferential end of the second arm comprises a closure securement mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 2 , wherein the closure securement mechanism comprises a magnetic closure between a distal end of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and a distal end of the partially circumferential end of the second arm. 
     
     
         4 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 2 , wherein the closure securement mechanism comprises a snap-fit or a friction fit between a distal end of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and a distal end of the partially circumferential end of the second arm. 
     
     
         5 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 4 , wherein the snap fit or friction fit comprises at least one male member extending away from a distal end of one or both of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and/or the partially circumferential end of the second arm. 
     
     
         6 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 4 , wherein the snap fit or friction fit comprises at least one recessed region defined in a distal end of one or both of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and/or the partially circumferential end of the second arm, wherein the at least one recessed region is complementary in shape to, and aligned with, the at least one male member. 
     
     
         7 . The guide wire assist tool of  claim 2 , wherein the closure securement mechanism comprises a clip that operatively clips the partially circumferential ends of the first arm and the second arm together when the guidewire assist tool is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one raised surface defined on the inner surface of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and the second arm are of a shape that is complementary to a shape of the blood pump inlet apertures or outlet apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 8 , wherein when the guidewire assist tool is in the closed configuration, the at least one raised surface aligns with, and engagingly blocks, the blood pump inlet apertures or outlet apertures. 
     
     
         10 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one raised surface defined by inner surfaces of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and the second arm is smooth and curvilinear. 
     
     
         11 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 10 , wherein the housing of the blood pump at the inlet apertures or the outlet apertures comprises a curvilinear shape and radius, and wherein the curvilinear at least one raised surface matches the curvilinear shape and radius of the blood pump housing at the inlet apertures or the outlet apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one raised surface rises a distance above the inner surfaces of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         13 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 12 , wherein the housing defining the inlet apertures and/or outlet apertures has a thickness and wherein the distance that the at least one raised surface rises above the inner surfaces of the partially circumferential end of the first arm and the second arm is the same as the thickness of the housing at the defined inlet apertures and/or defined outlet apertures. 
     
     
         14 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 13 , wherein when the guidewire assist tool is in the closed configuration, the at least one raised surface is configured to enable a tip of the guidewire to smoothly translate past the inlet aperture and/or outlet aperture that the at least one raised surface is disposed within. 
     
     
         15 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 1 , wherein when the guidewire assist tool is in the closed configuration, the at least one raised surface is configured to still allow for free rotation of the impeller with the tool installed. 
     
     
         16 . The guidewire assist tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm partially circumferential end and the second arm's partially circumferential end are held closed by a biasing force provided by a spring that is operatively disposed between the first and second arms.